Keep a close eye out for the non-compete clause in the contract. If it's there - and the Big 6 love to include them - make sure it's something you can live with or something you can negotiate so it doesn't impact your other writing. I've seen other writers turn down a contract with a Big 6 publisher because their contracts included clauses that tried to restrict them from selling anything elsewhere.

I couldn't agree with this more -- I came within millimeters of not signing my big-six contract (and it was six-figures) because of the non-compete. It took months but we finally got it adjusted to something I could live with.

I kind of suspect they have given us a starting figure and expect our agent to bring it up higher. On the other hand, since an agent would take 15-20% of the total, I'm wondering if it would be better not to bother.

I know they do plan to do a lot of marketing. They're hiring a special erotica author for this book.

I kind of suspect they have given us a starting figure and expect our agent to bring it up higher. On the other hand, since an agent would take 15-20% of the total, I'm wondering if it would be better not to bother.

I know they do plan to do a lot of marketing. They're hiring a special erotica author for this book.

Again...

First write quick and write good. This is time dependent task!
Second, make sure your future is clear. Don't sign away your future.
Third, this time is not about the money up front, it is about "success!"

With success under your belt, you can quibble and dawdle over money, next time.

I'm not sure if this was asked/discussed yet, but did you do an outline or synopsis or ?? I presume you did?

Yes, a very detailed outline. In fact, we submitted two outlines, to see which one they wanted to go for. Then we were called into an editorial meeting, and had at least an hour of discussing the plot, the characters, the backstory, the degree kinkiness, how we would write, all that stuff. And in between this, the editor is flying off to London to discuss this with the editors over there.

(Although a caveat there is Big 6 has lots of imprints, so tracking down this specific case can be an exception to the norm.)

I did notice the exaggerations in the original. I assumed that, rather than using a loophole to avoid the demand for return of the advance in a year (I didn't know the contract could have that kind of loophole), that the publisher told her to go away--"we're not going to publish your book if you're going to be this hostile to us and our marketing plan." Which also sounded unlikely, but not impossible.

I caught the "85% of books are sold at Amazon," and assumed that was just unsupported hype.

The main lesson I got from Trunk's article was, "demand that your publisher explain *their* side of the marketing plan; don't just tell them how you'll be using your blog for their profit."

Might be worth contacting an agent or two who could conceivably work on your behalf. You give up 15 percent, but you may also gain access to foreign rights sales and film options, depending on how canny and ambitious your agent is. Given that you already have an offer, it may be easier to find an agent. In my own (dated) experience, my agent made foreign rights and film sales that added up to quite a bit more than the US publisher's advance.

Astonishingly, even though there is a deal on the table, and this is guaranteed money for them, I'm still getting rejected by agents who say "We don't handle that sort of book."

Have you tried Brown Literary Agency? It says they're closed to queries, but will look at you if you're NY published. I imagine the same might hold if you have a deal on the table from a NY publisher. You might want to indicate that in the subject line if you decide to query them. I know they have other erotic romance authors on their roster.

She was recommended by another agent, and seems to be really on the ball. She's already looked over this contract and terms, and the contract from my other publisher which has clauses about option on the next book, and thinks she can get much better terms.